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This trip has been a lot like a genealogical journey for me in that I researched the locations in my novel based on period and modern maps then set out to find the places whilst in London. It’s been an incredible amount of walking but so worth it.

Today was the end of my journey, at least as it pertains to my research. We went to Primrose Hill, which is where the body of my victim was found.

There is no marker to show the exact spot where the body was found, but we looked for the approximate place based on period descriptions.

This photo is the area where the body of Sir Edmund Berry Godfrey was found on 17 Oct 1678.

We are leaving Amsterdam today to go back to London. This morning we got up early to go to the Anne Frank House since the line was so long yesterday at 7pm we didn't go in. Today we are here before the doors open and there's still a healthy line. I enjoyed our day yesterday immensely, even better than the first day. It was good to get out of the seedier bits of the city, the area which is fun (has a similar feel to the French Quarter in New Orleans), but is full of tourists and gets tiresome. We began the day with breakfast at a cafe in a department store, then walked to the Rembrandt House. The Rembrandt House is the place he lived and worked and it has been restored to the way it was whilst he lived there. On display is the artwork of his friend and sometimes rival, Lievens, who was as talented as Rembrandt but has not achieved quite the historical success he did. Next we walked to the Hermitage Museum, but the long line put us off. Instead we had lunch at an outdoor cafe and decided to walk to the Heineken Experience. After a walk so long I was dying to sit down for a beer, we decided to skip the Heineken Experience in favor of the Van Gogh Museum, which was nearby. But not before sitting down and enjoying two very well-earned beers. The Van Gogh Museum includes about 200 of the 900 works that were in his inventory at the time of his death. Seeing them side-by-side, it enables one to see his evolution as an artist. For dinner we decided to go to the restaurant in the hotel, which is French. The food was lovely, but I have to say I was not impressed with the cheeses, which were what I really came for. Next stop, London!

We are well into our second day in Amsterdam so I want to record a few things about our first day. After enjoying our beer at the outdoor cafe near the Dam, we walked to the Amsterdam Historical Museum. It offered a glimpse into life in Amsterdam from the 1300s to the present. Next, we took a ride on the canal, which was more relaxing than it was interesting. It's much more useful to look at Amaterdam from the streets rather than canals, I think. Still, if recommend a boat trip simply for the pleasure of it. The red light district is about a block from our hotel and we've been through it a few times as a result. It is disconcerting to see the prostitutes standing inside the rooms with glass doors, silently advertising themselves. I want to look closely at them but feel like I'm exploiting them just for doing that. Mick, of course, has no such reservations. The streets, especially in the red light district, are full of groups of young men. As my friend Zach put it, it's a sausage factory. After an evening of debauchery (relatively speaking, of course) we retired to our room. I recommend the space cakes, but share one with a friend if you are inexperienced!

We made it to Amsterdam and after being here for only an hour I've decided I love it. After checking into our hotel, the Grand Sofitel, we set off for the city center in search of beer and a map. The first picture is Mick and I sitting at an outdoor cafe and the second is what we see from our seats. More later, of course!

We arrived in England early this morning and after a quick nap and lunch, we helped Mick's sister Nina decorate for her 40th birthday party tomorrow night. The simple but beautiful centerpieces were made using blue vases purchased at IKEA and a single white hydrangea in each. I'll post photos of the decorated tent tomorrow but for now here's a sneak peek.

Mick and are at our favorite restaurant, Monsoon on 3rd Street Prominade. They have an appetizer called Tuna Crab Eggroll that is one of my favorite dishes of all time. I call it "deserted island food" because if I was stranded on a deserted island and could only pick one meal, it's probably what I'd pick.

This is kind of a test post since I am sending it using email and my phone for the first time. I'm hoping to be able to post using my phone whilst we're in England. I wanted to share a picture of the lovely beaded bag I got in Diamond Springs, CA (which, incidentally, is where I grew up):